Monday, April 6, 2020

Bonk

Meet Certhia americana - the brown creeper.  Not to be confused with a creepy creeper that might peer into your bedroom window with creepy intent.


One of the immediate physical characteristics I noted from this specimen was the long, very thin beak and mottled brown coloration contrasting with the pure white underbelly.  It is also a diminutive bird.   

The name comes from the bird's habit of creeping up a tree trunk looking for insects.  When it reaches the top of a tree - off it flies to the base of another to repeat the process.  This is a one-way bird - always climbing up and never down.  

Not easy to spot inasmuch as that mottled brown and gray plumage serves as a concealment device allowing this clever critter to blend-in with the bark of a tree as it feeds. 

It ranges from Canada to the Gulf Coast and supposedly is a rear-round resident on the peninsula - yet I've never spotted one in the winter.  And never one this close-up and personal.

Addressing what you are obviously thinking the bird in the photo isn't dead - only stunned.  It bonked itself flying into a window.  I fetched it for the privilege of a closer look and within moments it flew from my hand to hang out in the netting protecting the hydrangeas from deer browse.  This was a short and rewarding opportunity to indulge my immersion in the natural world.  Ma Nature delivers a surprise from time-to-time.

As for the creeper - no worse for the bump on the noggin and having a big, scary hoomin administer an examination. After sitting in the sun for a few minutes it flew-away.

The screens went up on the windows afterwards to prevent any further bird bonks...

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